Morocco Will Challenge U.S.-Led Bid for 2026 World Cup

Morocco, a nation whose population of 33 million is one-tenth the size of the United States’, bid for the 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010 World Cups, losing out each time in part because its rivals were deemed better equipped to pull off the event. Hosting an expanded tournament would require billions of dollars of investment, and as a result its decision to enter the race came as a mild surprise to some in FIFA. Africa has hosted the tournament only once, in South Africa in 2010. The United States, which lost a much criticized vote for the 2022 tournament, last hosted in 1994.

Under the United States-Mexico-Canada plan, the United States would get 60 of the 80 games, and every match from the quarterfinals through the championship game. Canada and Mexico, while full partners in the bid, would host matches only in earlier rounds.